Anantara On and On

Local Officials Insist that Demolition of Sixth Floor of Seminyak Resort Will Take Place.

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(1/28/2009)

Bali Post continues to aggressively cover the apparent tug-of-war in play between the Badung regency government and the owners of the Anantara Seminyak Resort.

According the Bali's leading daily, a week after the September January 14, 2009, pledge by enforcement officers from the Badung government that they would remove structures on the sixth floor of the Resort, the popular bar and penthouse appear intact. The latest promise to finally conform to the height restrictions of local zoning laws comes after a similar promise by management made and later ignored in September 2008.

The newspaper reports that no efforts have been made to demolish the Sunset on Six bar and that guests continue to enjoy the gardens and pool surrounding the Resort.

When Bali Post contacted the Chief of the Badung Enforcement Agency (Satpol PP Badung), Wayan Adi Arnawa, who vowed that his office continues to monitor the situation and would move ahead with plans to forcibly demolish the sixth floor of the building. Arnawa said that his office was unable to barge in and begin demolishing the structure for fear that such actions might put tourists staying at the resort at risk.

Arnawa refuted the Bali Post's claim that no demolition activities were taking place, insisting that the top floor is being removed in a very slow and cautious manner. When asked how many staff had been deployed to assist with the ordered demolition, a Satpol PP Badung official was unable to provide a specific number.